Arc detecting material admission apparatus for use in combination with an electric arc heater

ABSTRACT

A materials admission or quench tube assembly disposed downstream of an electric arc heater, this assembly being disposed adjacent to the downstream electrode of the electric arc heater but insulated therefrom, the assembly having the capability of admitting quench material to a stream of gas which has been previously heated by an arc in the upstream heater or being capable of providing process material to that stream or both, the materials admission and quenching assembly having as an integral part thereof an electrical current transformer electrically connected to an indicating or control means. In the event a root of an electric arc which normally resides or strikes against the downstream electrode in the arc heater strikes against an internal portion of the materials admission and quenching tube the electrical current flowing from the root of the arc which has struck the internal portion of the materials admission and quenching tube will flow through the region enclosed by the current transformer and returned to ground through a suitable ground connection. The flow of current through the region enclosed by the current transformer will energize the current transformer to an extent sufficient to cause the indicating or control means electrically connected to the current transformer to reach to the current and therefore provide an indication of the fact that the root of an arc has struck an internal part of the materials admission and quenching structure and compensate therefor if desirable.

e rs- 73 "xR United States Patent 1 Wolf et al.

[451 Sept. 18, 1973 ARC DETECTING MATERIAL ADMISSION APPARATUS FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH AN ELECTRIC ARC IIEATER [75] Inventors: Charles B. Wolf, Irwin; Maurice G.

Fey; Frederick A. Azinger, Jr., both of Pittsburgh, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

221 Filed: Aug. 11, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 279,894

Primary Examiner-J. V. Truhe Assistant ExaminerGale R. Peterson Attorney-A. T. Stratton et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A materials admission or quench tube assembly dis posed downstream of an electric arc heater, this assembly being disposed adjacent to the downstream electrode of the electric arc heater but insulated therefrom, the assembly having the capability of admitting quench material to a stream of gas which has been previously heated by an arc in the upstream heater or being capable of providing process material to that stream or both, the materials admission and quenching assembly having as an integral part thereof an electrical current transformer electrically connected to an indicating or control means. In the event a root of an electric arc which normally resides or strikes against the downstream electrode in the arc heater strikes against an internal portion of the materials admission and quenching tube the electrical current flowing from the root of the are which has struck the internal portion of the materials admission and quenching tube will flow through the region enclosed by the current transformer and returned to ground through a suitable ground connection. The flow of current through the region enclosed by the current transformer will energize the current transformer to an extent sufficient to cause the indicating or control meanselectrically connected to the current transformer to reach to the current and therefore provide an indication of the fact that the root of an arc has struck an internal part of the materials admission and quenching structure and compensate therefor if desirable.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAm-nm riw 3,766,151

' sum 1 or 3 FIGZ FIG.I

PATENTED SEPI 8l973 SHEEI 2 0F 3 FIG?) PAIENTEUSEPI 8|975 3,750,151

saw 3 or 3 1 ARC DETECTING MA RIAL ADMISSION APPARATUS FOR UsE IN COMBINATION WITII AN ELECTRIC ARC IIE TER CROSS REFERANCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Certain inventions related to those disclosed in the present application are disclosed and claimed in C- pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 279,895, filed concurrently by M. G. Fey and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to quenching or material admission assemblies for electric arc heaters and it has particular relation to materials admission and quenching assemblies having integral arc detecting means therein.

Chemical processes are frequently carried out by passing a gas or other material through an electric arc and then quenching the gas or other material very quickly after it leaves the region of the are thus freezing the high temperature equilibrium products. In other processes, process material may be admitted into heated gases or other flowing materials after the gases have passed through the are thus avoiding the problem of overheating the process fluid or material. In a hydrocarbon processing operation overheating may result in the production of excessive carbon which is detrimental. When quenching or when admitting process material to the previously heated gas or material it is desirable to have the admission point as close to. the arc zone as possible for greater efficiency. However, if the apparatus or structure for admitting processed material or quench material is located close to the downstream electrode in an electric arc heater, electric arcing or flashover to this materials admission and quenching structure is likely to occur, it being realized that electric arcing of this nature is detrimental as it may erode or otherwise electrically destory or incapacitate part of the quenching and materials admission means.

Prior art devices which have some relationship to the structures taught by this invention are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,075,065 issued Jan. 22, 1963 to A. C. Ducati et al., 3,179,782 issued Apr. 20, 1965 to L. Matvay, 3,235,700 issued Feb. 15, I966 to G. Mondain- Monval et al. and 3,387,110 issued June 4, 1968 to F. Wendler et al. The Wendler et al. patent describes a downstream emission tube for feeding powder into an are produced plasma but the are produced is generated by a radial are producing means including a center electrode and the means for feeding the powder includes no arc detecting means. The Ducati et al. patent also shows a downstream admission tube for injecting gases into a plasma torch but this patent shows no arc detecting means integral therewith nor does it show a structure other than the previously described tube for admitting or injecting gases or powders to the plasma torch. The Mondain-Monval et al. patent discloses a powder admission conduit positioned downstream of an electric are but it also does not disclose an arc detecting means integral therewith. The Matvay patent describes a pitot tube positioned in an apparatus to deliver work material to a critical point in an arc region downstream of a rod electrode. However, as with the others this does not show an arc detecting means integral with a means for admitting quenching fluids or process material. All of the above described patents have certain disadvantages or problems. None of them describe a single integrated structure for admitting process or quench material to a stream which has been preheated by an electric arc in an arc heater which structure is electrically insulated from the electrodes in the arc heater and is easily removable therefrom for cleaning, servicing or replacing. In addition, none of the prior art structures include an electrical arc detecting means so that an arc root which should normally reside upon an electrode near the admission structure but which nevertheless for a period of time resides upon a portion of the admission structure is detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a materials admission and quenching means having an integral arc detector therein is combined with existing arc heating apparatus of the type employing a plurality of electrodes to generate an electric arc to thereby heat a stream of material flowing therethrough. The adjacent materials admission and quenching structure is electrically insulated from all of the electrodes but disposed to the arc region so that the material heated by the arc has very little opportunity to cool before the quenching material or process material is provided thereto. The material admission and quenching structure has an integral arc detecting means and is adapted to be combined with existing arc heater structures described in patents and patent applications assigned to the assignee of the present Invention. As an example, US. Pat. No. 3,629,553 issued Dec. 12, 1971 to Maurice G. Fey, Westinghouse Case 41,450, Ser. No. 15,446, filed Mar. 2, 1970 by C. B. Wolf and M. G. Fey; and US. Pat. No. 3,522,015, issued July 28, 1970 by D. A. Maniero and C. B. Wolf. In addition, the previously described apparatus for detecting arc and providing quench and process material to heated gas from an electric arc heater is suitable for use with an electric arc heater of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,663,792 issued May 16, 1972 to M. G. Fey. It should be realized that although the previously described apparatus for detecting arcs and providing quench and process material has been described as usable in combination with the previously described patents and applications related to structure, processes or methods assigned to the assignee of the present application it is also applicable for use with other processes and structures performing in a similar manner. In one operative embodiment of the invention an annular brass flange is provided with an annular concentric copper tube or sleeve at the inner portion thereof, which tube or sleeve communicates with the annular opening of an arc heater so that are heated gases may flow through the tube or sleeve. The copper tube is cooled by a cooling fluid such as water, flowing through ducts or openings in the brass flange or between parts of the brass flange and the outer perimeter of the copper tube or sleeve. The cooling fluid as the name implies cools the copper tube or sleeve so that the high temperature gases passing through the annular opening formed by the copper tube or sleeve do not raise the temperature of the annular sleeve to such an extent as to melt it or destroy it or render it inoperative. The flange has disposed in'one portion thereof a generally concentric coaxial admission ring for admitting the previously described process or quench material to the region of the heated process material in the copper tube or sleeve for processing or quenching purposes. This annular ring is disposed adjacent the copper tube or sleeve and brass flange so that it may communicate with a manifold in the flange and with the region surrounded by the copper tube or sleeve. At another portIon of the flange the previously mentioned copper tube or sleeve is secured or held snugly into a groove in the flange thereby creating a low resistance electrically conducting path between the copper tube and the brass flange. At the other end of the flange an electrically insulating gasket is disposed adjacent that portion of the copper tube or flange which is to mate or link up with the arc heater so as to electrically insulate the material admission and quenching means from the arc heater. Disposed within a portion of the brass flange and generally coaxial with the copper tube and the admission ring as well as the annular flange member is a circular annular current transformer having the electrical leads therefrom connected to an indicating or control means. When the materials admission and quenching means with integral arc detector is combined with an arc heater and when an electrical ground connection is established to the materials admission means brass flange any portion of the electrical are which normally resides in the arc heater but which jumps across the previously describd insulation onto the inner surface of the copper tube or sleeve must complete its electrical current path through the copper tube, through one of the junctions between the copper tube and the brass flange to the electrical ground connection. However, in so doing the electrical current must flow through the region enclosed by the current transformer and consequently excite the current transformer to cause electrical current to flow therein and thereby provide a signal to the previously described indicating or control means electrically connected thereto. The electrical indicating means may then provide an indication of the presence of an electric are or may be electrically connected to various kinds of control devices for controlling the electric arc or for controlling process material supplied to any portion of the combined electric arc heater and materials admission and quenching structure.

For example, it would be possible to regulate the flow of gas through the arc heater so that the root of the arc is generally very close to the admission point, and only strike the internal tube of admission apparatus a small percentage of the time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention reference FIG. 5 is a side elevation partially broken away and in section of a portion of an arc heater and integral materials admission and quenching structure with are detecting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and FIG. 1 in particular, an arc heater station 10 including a matter or materials admission and quenching means with integral arc detector and the associated support structure is shown. The arc heater apparatus 12 comprises a stationary portion 14 and a movable portion 16 which movable portion 16 is disposed on wheels 18 so that movable arc heater section 16 may be moved to the right to a position indicated by 16A Wheels 18 are supported upon and movable on rail section 20 of a frame assembly 22. When in the operating or closed position the movable arc heater portion 16 is joined to the stationary arc heater portion 14 and secured by a lock assembly (not shown). There also may be included therewith an adjustment assembly (not shown) such as described in previously referred to US. Pat. No. 3,629,553 it being realized that the locking and adjusting assemblies are not limited to these structures. The stationary part 14 I of the arc heater assembly 12 is secured to the rail 20 may be had to the preferred embodiments exemplary of frame 22 by securing and adjusting means 28 and 30. Arc heater assembly 12 may have two field coil power connectors 32 and 34 for the connection of electrical power to magnetic field coils in the arc heater which are not shown but are positioned therein for the purpose of rotating an electrical are which may be established between electrodes in the arc heater assembly 12. Also included in the arc heater assembly 12 are two main power connections 36 and 38 which may be connected to a source of power for energizing the electrodes within the arc heater assembly or apparatus 12 for the purpose of establishing an arc between the electrodes. Also included as part of the arc heater assembly 12 are pipe or fluid carrying assemblies 40 and 42 for providing cooling fluid to the electrodes of the arc heater assembly, one pipe being used as an input port for cooling fluid and the other pipe being used as an output port for cooling fluid. The cooling fluid reservoirs are not shown. A pipe assembly 44 is shown for providing input fluid to the region of the gap between the two previously described electrodes which fluid may be useful for providing process material to the region of the are or for providing a gaseous or fluid substance into the vicinity of the gap between the electrodes to blow the are out into the center of the arc heater assembly, or both. Ports for field coil cooling fluid are not shown for convenience of illustration.

Adjacent the left side of the arc heater assembly 12 and included as a part thereof for certain operational functions is a materials admission structure with integral arc detector 46, which may be hereinafter referred to as the arc detector structure, for the purpose of simplicity of description. Arc detector structure 46 has connected thereto an output indicating or control means 48 connected to electrical leads 49 and 50 which are in turn connected to the arc detector portion of arc detector structure 46. Means 48 may be an output signal indicator, a meter or a portion of a control sytem. However, it is not limited to these structures and functions. The are detector structure 46 which may also be known in some instances as a quench tube assembly has connected thereto a piping system comprising an input quench tube coolant pipe 52 and an output quench tube coolant pipe 54 which may communicate jointly with a reservoir of quench tube coolant fluid 56, it being understood that the directions of the materials shown flowing in pipes 52 and 54 may be reversed without changing the operating characteristics or functions of the apparatus 46. Also connected to arc detector structure or assembly 46 but not shown in FIG. 1 is a port for the entrance of quench material or process material which may be provided to the internal portions of arc detector structure 46.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is depicted. Specifically, part of arc heater apparatus 12 is shown disposed upon structural support means 22 by way of wheels 18 disposed upon tracks 20. The rear or movable portion 16 of arc heater structure 12 is most easily seen in FIG. 2. In addition, electrical connectors or electrodes 34 and 38 are shown, In addition, the end portions of rods 58 also shown in FIG. 1 are depicted adjacent either side of arc heater assembly 12. Rods 58 cooperate with the previously described adjusting mechanism or structure 26 to position the movable portion 16 of arc heater assembly 12 with respect to the stationary portion 14. Also shown is an end plug assembly 60 which may be removed for the insertion of a third electrode or for the cleaning or inspection of internal portions of the rear or movable portion 16 of the arc heater assembly 12 or for other good reasons. In addition, end plug assembly 60 may be removed for the purpose of supplying process material of any kind through the opening therein and into the region of the arc in the arc heater assembly 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a sectioned side elevation of arc detector assembly 46 is shown. Structural member 46 includes in one embodiment of the invention a sub stantially brass annular flange assembly 62 having a central opening therein it has a center line 64 with center line 64 being aligned with the center line of the arc heater apparatus 12 depicted in FIG. 1 when structure 46 is used in combination therewith. Arc detector structure 46 includes as part thereof a primarily copper tube or sleeve 66 which is annular and has the same common center line as flange 62. Copper tube or sleeve 66 is disposed internal to the annulus of flange 62 and is adjacent thereto radially. Flange member 62 comprises three sections known respectively as the front section 68, the central section 70 and the rear section 72. Front section 68 comprises a radial plate or disc having a central hole therethrough. Front section 68 also includes various entry ports and channels for the conduction of fluids and particulate matter under certain circumstances to various parts of the arc detector and quenching apparatus 46. Brazed to an inner lip or portion 74 of front flange 68 is one portion of the outer periphery of brass tube 70 which is also known as the central flange portion. Adjacent the other end of cylindrical central flange portion 70 and connected thereto by way of retaining seal and ring 76 and 78, respectively, is the last-mentioned part of flange assembly 62, namely, rear flange portion 72 having disposed therein various openings, grooves, holes or ducts for the conduction of certain fluid and particulate matter which may be useful in the operation of the arc detector assembly 46. The copper annular sleeve or inner cylindrical portion 66 of the arc detector assembly 46 is secured or fastened to two portions of the flange assembly 62, namely, front inner surface 80 of the front flange assembly 68 and rear lip 82 of the rear flange portion 72. The tube 66 is held in place by the down stream adjacent part 195 being secured to flange 62 by bolt 67. There is an O Ring (20D) to make the seal. Flanged portion 84 is pushed axially against flange 62 to 201 as shown in the magnified sketch as tube 66 is slightly longer axially than flange 62. This connection or clamping insues or provides a very good low resistance electrical path between sleeve 66 and flange assembly 62. On the other hand, sleeve portion 66 is connected or secured to surface 80 of front flange portion 68. It should be understood that these methods of joining tube 66 to flange 72 is not limiting and other methods of joining are possible including varying the amount of pressure fit between the front and rear flanges 72 and 68 of the flange assembly 62 and the tube 66, respectively are possible. Arc detecting means or current transformer 86 which may be toroidal is fastened or secured to the rear portion 72 of flange assembly 62 by way of bolts or fastening means 90. The electrical turns or insulated windings in compact coil or arc detecting means 86 may be visualized as being concentric about center line 64. Two electrical leads 92 and 94 are shown connected to the windings of the electrical conductors in current transformer 86 so that electrical current-may flow into the arc detector 86 in one case and away from it in another case. An electrically responsive readout and control means 48 which is also depicted in FIG. 1 is shown electrically connected to the leads 92 and 94 so that electrical current flowing in leads 92 and 94 may energize the readout or control means 48, it being understood that readout or control means 48 may be used to indicate the presence of current in the leads 92 and 94 or may be used to cause certain portions of the arc heater assembly or associated equipment to respond through a control function initiated in means 48. For example, by controlling the amount of electrical current in or voltage at leads 32 and 34 or leads 36 and 38 as shown in FIG. 1 or the amount of fluid flowing in pipes 44 or 40 and 42. Adjacent the front portion of flange 68 and copper sleeve or tube 66 is an are resistant admission ring for secondary fluid, quench fluid or reactant material any of which may be fluid or particulate in nature. Ring 98 may in a preferred embodiment of the invention include a lip 100 radially abutable with a corresponding lip 102 in the front portion 68 of flange assembly 62 for securing ring 98 thereto and holding it in position. Ring 98 may have radially protruding and circumferentially spaced openings, orifices, holes or ducts therein, not

shown, for the admission of particulate or fluid matter from the region of manifold 104 to the central portion 106 of arc detector assembly 46. Manifold 104 communicates by way of a passageway or duct or series of ducts 108 with an admission port 110 for secondary fluid, quench fluid or reactant material, it being understood that the reactant material is supplied by suitable ducting to the port 110 under suitable pressure whereupon it is conducted through duct or ducts 108 to manifold 104 where it is thereby forced through the ducts, slits, holes or orifices in admission ring 98 into the reaction chamber 106 of arc detector and quench assembly 46. It is also to be understood that the holes or openings previously described in materials admission ring 98 must be suitably large to allow the movement of the particular kind of material sought to be provided into reaction zone 106. Flange assembly 62 has disposed or placed in the front flange portion 72 an input cooling fluid port 112 which communicates with a front flange manifold l 14 which in turn communicates with a sleeve cooling chamber, duct or path 116 which in turn communicates with a forward flange assembly manifold l 18 which finally communicates with an output coolant port 120. Consequently coolant fluid may be provided to port 112 whereby it may circulate through manifold 114 and path 116 for a purpose of cooling the rear wall portion of sleeve 66 which may have been heated by hot materials or reactions taking place within reaction zone 106. The heated cooling fluid may then enter manifold portion 118 whereafter it is removed through the coolant output port 120 to a suitable reservoir for possible return to port 112. It is to be understood that port 112 may be the output coolant port and port 120 may be the input coolant port in which case the direction of cooling fluid as previously described is reversed. In addition, multiple cooling ports may be added to those shown as single cooling ports. It will be noted that at various points in the arc detector and quench assembly 46 proximate to the various fluid conducting paths are positioned seals for the purpose of providing fluid tight joints or connections in the arc detector assembly 46. Adjacent the front portion of arc detector assembly 46 is an insulating layer of material which may be similar to a material sold under the trademark TEFLON which provides an insulating barrier between the arc detector assembly 46 and the front portion 14 f the arc heater assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, in the preferred embodiment of the invention are detector assembly 46 is electrically insulated from are heater assembly 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a rear elevation of the arc detector assembly 46 shown in FIG. 3 is depicted. A section of electrically insulating material 122 is shown adjacent a portion of the rear wall portion 68 of are detector assembly 46, it being realized from viewing FIG. 4 that in at least one embodiment but not limited to that, that the rear wall of arc detector 46 is an octagon in shape to correspond with the octangon shape of the arc heater assembly which may best be viewed by reference to FIG. 2. For securing or fastening purposes four holes 124 are provided in spaced locations around a portion of arc detector assembly 46 for securing arc detector assembly 46 to the nozzle or front region 14 of arc heater assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 1 and for the positioning sandwiching or compressing of the insulating material 112 therebetween. The bolts 90 for securing arc detector means or current transformer 86 to the front portion 72 of flange 62 which is not necessarily octogonal in shape, are also depicted in FIG. 4. The forward streamlined or beveled leading edge of sleeve 66 is also shown forming the annular circular reaction region 106. Also shown in the dotted outline is the rear portion of the cylindrical path 116 provided behind the outer wall of sleeve 66. The innermost annular cylindrical shell 128 for the disposition of the windings in the field coil 86 are shown in FIG. 4. The various ports 112, 110 and 120 as depicted in FIG. 3 are not shown in FIG. 4 for simplicity of illustration. The inter-section of quadrant lines 130 and 132 as shown in FIG. 4 form one point of center line 64 which traverses the plane of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an operative arc heater assembly including an adjacent, electrically insulated arc detector and materials admission means is shown. In this figure, 12 represents an arc heater apparatus and 46 represents an arc detector and materials admission means used in combination therewith. Arc heater apparatus 12 may be of the type disclosed in copending application Westinghouse Case U.S. Pat. No. 43,735 Ser. No. 279,895 and which is also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be understood however that the arc heater apparatus such as represented by 12 is not limiting and any suitable arc heater apparatus adapted for heating process or other material or feed stock in an electric arc is suitable for use with the arc detector 46. In this case, arc heater apparatus 12 is provided with two annular axially aligned electrodes 133 and 134. The electrical conductor 38a schematically shown represents the electrical path of terminal 38 as shown in FIG. 1 and is connected to electrode 133. Similarly, schematically shown connector or lead 36a is shown connected to electrode 134. In this particular representation, the schematically shown lead 36a is connected to a ground point G3. The lead 380 is shown connected to the high voltage side of a potential source V, the low voltage side of which is grounded at G2. Note, however, lead 32a may be directly connected to the other side of source V from lead 34a so that a grounded system is not necessary in all instances. As can be seen, are heater 12 comprises a left and right section 14 and 16 which correspond to the relatively stationary and movable sections 14 and 16 respectively shown in FIG. 1. Upon joining of the two sections an annular gap 136 is formed through which a fluid F such as a gas may flow by first causing the fluid F to flow through pipe assembly 44 and then through internal ducting 138 of the arc heater apparatus 10 and then through the gap 136 whereupon it may act to enlarge or stretch an are A into the region between the two annular electrodes which may be known as an arc chamber 140 whereupon the gas may move downstream where it is identified as F1 towards the reaction chamber 106 of arc detector means 46 which reaction chamber 106 communicates with arc chamber 140. It should be noted that fluid F may comprise a gas, a liquid or a finely pulverized particulate material. Annularly located or positioned around the electrodes 133 and 134 are field coils 139 the purpose of which is to assist in some cases in the rotating of the arc A so that the roots R1 and R2 of the arc upon electrode 134 move continuously around the inner surface of the annular electrodes 133 and 134. This avoids erosion and deterioration of the electrode surface due to the hot spots generated at the roots of the are, A. It should be noted that arc root R2 is meant to remain within the longitudinal limits described by the two reference figures L and Z on the inner surface of electrode 134. It being realized that Z is the furthest rightmost extension of electrode 134 and that the point L is the furthest leftmost extension of electrode 134. Insulating barrier 122 separates the electrode surface of electrode 134 from the conducting sleeve or tubing 66 of the arc detector apparatus 46. It should also be noted with respect to arc heater apparatus 10 that coolant fluid piping 40 and 42 as shown in FIG. 1 communicate wth certain internal coolant ducting such as shown at 141 so that the electrodes 133 and 134 may be cooled during operation of the arc heater apparatus 10. Field coils 139 may be cooled by separate ducts now shown.

OPERATION OF THE ARC HEATER AND ARC DETECTOR IN COMBINATION As can be seen by examining FIG. 5, there are occasions when the leftmost root or downstream root R2 of arc A may extend past the desired boundary L and encroach upon or strike the copper sleeve or tube 66 in the arc detector 46. For purposes of illustration, an arc root R2 is shown in FIG. 5 impinging upon one part of sleeve 66 it being understood that the root may impinge or reside anywhere on the inner surface of the copper tube or sleeve 66 and the arc detector will nevertheless function for the purpose intended. This is because the current path of the electrical circuit including the power supply V for the electrode 133, the schematically shown lead 38a, the electrode 133, the current in the arc A, the various electrical paths designated I1 and I2 in the flange 72 and sleeve 66 of the arc detector 46, the ground connection G1 and the groundconnection G2 all carry the same current namely IT when the arc A impinges upon any portion of the inner surface of the copper sleeve or cylinder 66. Such being the case, the current transformer 86 which is exemplary of an operational arc detector means will have flowing through the enclosed central region a component of electrical current IT. This component of electrical current IT will by necessary and well known electrical interaction induce a corresponding transfer of energy preferably in the form of the flow of electric current IC in a circuit including the turns of windings of transformer 86, the line or lead 92, the detector control means 48 and the line or lead 94. This current will represent the presence of current IT flowing through the central region or measurement region of the compact coil 86. It will be noted that even if the root R2 of arc A strikes the surface of sleeve or electrical conductor 66 to the right of the region of arc detector coil 86, electrical current in the form of components I1 and 12 which algebraically equal the current value IT must flow through the region of measurement of the coil 86, it being noted that electrical current cannot traverse the insulating wafer, shim or seal 122 which is interposed to electrically insulate the arc detector and materials admission and quench means 46 from arc heater apparatus 12. In one possible current path, current I1 flows through the electrical conductor comprising sleeve or tube 66 and preferably thereafter through the low resistance electrically conducting juncture 82 between copper sleeve 66 and primarily brass flange region 72 of the support flange 62. From thence it must flow to the ground connection G1 which is purposely provided to the arc detector apparatus 46. In some cases, a component of current I2 which is preferably smaller than component I1 and which may be zero, flows into flange member 68 through the relatively poorer electrically conducting joint or juncture 115 between the forward portion of sleeve or electrically conducting tube 65 and the forward flange portion 68 of the arc detector means 46. From thence it will flow through the central portion 70 of the flange member 62 to the rear portion 72 where it will then flow to the ground strap or connection G1. Note that in most instances Il may be greater than I2 and I2 may even be zero.

OPERATION OF THE ARC DETECTOR MATERIALS ADMISSION MEANS IN COMBINATION WITH ARC HEATER APPARATUS FOR THE ADMISSIONS OF MATERIAL TO THE REACTION ZONE In addition to performing as an arc detection means apparatus 46 performs the function of providing process quench or other material from an outside source or reservoir to the internal part of the combination are detector materials admission means 46, it being realized that portions of the ducts and paths for the flow of process quench or other material and portions of the paths or ducts for the flow of coolant material are formed by the electrically conducting portions of flange member 62 and sleeve 66. The electrically conducting portions referred to therefore provide a dual purpose of serving as the side walls for channels or ducts and as the main electrically conducting paths for the flow of electrical current during an arc detecting operation. i

Process quench or other material generally designated M which may be provided to orifice or opening from an external reservoir or source of material not shown flows into duct 108 and from there into the manifold 104 which is annular and which communciates with the materials admission ring 98. The materials admission ring it being remembered, has communicating holes therein between the manifold 104 and the reactant zone or region 106. In a typical operation, heated process fluid such as F1 flows out of the arcing zone or are chamber of the arc heater apparatus 110 through an opening in the end thereof formed by the left annular portion of electrode 134 and thence into zone 106. The material F1 may comprise a heated gas, heated particulate matter or a heated fluid, it being understood that in a preferred embodiment of the invention the primary heating function occurs in zone 140 in the vicinity of the gap 136. Material M which may be additional process material may then be added to the previously pyrolyzed material F 1 for combination therewith in a chemical reaction or material M may be quench material to quickly cool stabilize or freeze the materials represented by identification symbol F1 to thereby preserve certain ascertainable chemical and physical properties of the material represented by the flow vector F1. Of course it is to be realized that the material F1 and the material M are not limited to the narrow paths as shown in FIG. 5 but may fill the entire volume of regions 140 and 106 depending upon other characteristics of the material in the arc heater and are detector means. It is also to be understood that although quenching and the addition of feed stock materials are two purposes for the material admission means other purposes may be accomplished. It is also to be understood that the material M may be fluid such as a gas or liquid or may be particulate matter of sufficiently small size relative to the openings in the admission ring 98.

Arc detector materials admission means 46 is normally cooled by providing coolant fluid as previously described through entrance port or porthole 112, internal ducting or cooling channels 116 and exit port porthole or manifold opening-120. As was described previously this material may be water or some other cooling material and may be provided to a heat exchanger means or reservoir in a closed loop so that warmed or heated material which may exit porthole 120 will be cooled by the exchanger means, not shown in FIG. and resupplied again as cooler material to porthole 112 for a continuous repetition of the cycle. In another embodiment the cooling fluid need not be recycled. It is also to be understood that the device or mean generally designated 48 and hence forth described as a readout device or control system device may have many useful purposes and in general readout device or control system device 48 may be thought of as providing an indication of the presence or recent presence of an are impinging upon the annular inner surface of tube 106 or it may be thought of as recording or presence of the recent presence of such arc or it may be thought of as providing a control function in response to the presence of the are which will act to prevent the arc from impinging upon the inner surface of tube or electrical conducting sleeve 66. It may act to indicate the percentage of time to sleeve 66 or it may perform other useful functions for controlling the arc, the electrical parameters of either the electrical system associated with the arc detector means or the electrical system associated with the arc heater means or the fluid systems including the materials provisions systems and the coolant systems associated therewith.

It is also to be understood that the arc heater and the materials admission means need not be insulated electrically from each other provided at least a small component of current flows through the enclosed region of the detecting means.

The apparatus embodying the teachings of the present invention have many advantages. It allows the materials admission or quench material zone to be positioned proximate to the arc heating zone to increase the efficiency of the arc heater apparatus, it provides a dual function integral unitary piece of electrical apparatus which can both supply material to a reaction zone and also detect the presence of an electrical arc root present therein. It also has the advantage of allowing for a feedback control system for controlling certain physical and electrical parameters of the arc heater apparatus in response to the impingement of an arc in the arc detector means. it also has the advantage of extending the reaction zone of the arc heater apparatus by providing a similar communicating annular region or volume 106 into which the continuity of the processes occurring in the arc heating zones 140 may continue.

What we claim is:

1. An arc heater apparatus of the type including a plurality of spaced electrode means between which an electric arc is struck for heating a proximately situated gas, comprising:

an arc dctector-and-material admission means disposed adjacent one of said spaced electrodes for providing material to said heated gas to interact therewith including integral means for electrically detecting the impingement of an electric arc near said are detector-and-material admission means.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas flows, said are detector and material admission means is disposed downstream of said one adjacent electrode means as determined by the direction of flow of said gas.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said are detector-and-material admission means is elec- 12 trically insulated from said one of said spaced electrodes.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 comprising cooling means for cooling said are detector-andmaterial admission means.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cooling means comprises:

a cooling channel integral with said arc detector-andmaterial admission means; and

a heat exchanger means spaced from said are detector-and-material admission means but communicating with said cooling channel to form a closed system for supplying a cooling medium to said are detector-and-material admission means and for removing the relatively warmer cooling medium therefrom after it passes through said channel, the heat from said relatively warmer cooling medium being cooled by said heat exchanger means to thereby provide said cooling medium for return to said cooling channel.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cooling medium comprises water.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced electrode means comprise a pair of annularly shaped electrodes disposed axially along a common central axis, said are detector-andmaterial admission means being disposed along said common central axis.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said gas flows, said arc detector-and-material admission means is in electrical contact with said adjacent one of said spaced electrodes and is disposed downstream therefrom as determined by the direction of flow of said gas comprising:

a cooling channel integral with said are detector-andmaterial admission means; and

a heat exchanger means spaced from said are detector-and-material admission means but communicating with said cooling channel in a closed system for supplying water to said arc detector-andmaterial admission means for cooling said channel and for removing relatively warmer water therefrom, the heat from said relatively warmer water being cooled by said heat exchanger means to thereby provide said cooling water for return to said cooling channel.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including means for indicating the presence of an electric are on said arc detector-and-material admission means, wherein said integral means for electrically detecting the impingment of an electric are upon said arc detector-and-material admission means comprises an electrical current transformer electrically communicating with said means for indicating the presence of an are upon said arc detector-and-ma terial admission means, said current transformer being annular and concentric about said common axis and disposed to detect electrical current flowing in said are detector-and-material admission means from the point of arc impingment on said are detector-and-material admission means to said adjacent one of said electrodes.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said arc detector-and-material admission means comprises a material admission structure having generally radially spaced openings therein past which said heated gas flows, said spaced openings communicating with a source of material to provide material to said heated gas to interact therewith.

11. The combination as claimed in claim including means for indicating the presence of a spurious arc on said are detector-and-material admission means, wherein said integral means for electrically detecting the impingement of an electric are upon said are detector-and-material admission means comprises an electrical current transformer electrically communicating with said means for indicating the presence of an arc upon said are detector-and-material admission means, said current transformer being annular and concentric about said common axis and disposed to detect electrical current flowing in said are detector-and-material admission means from the point of arc impingement tus. 

1. An arc heater apparatus of the type including a plurality of spaced electrode means between which an electric arc is struck for heating a proximately situated gas, comprising: an arc detector-and-material admission means disposed adjacent one of said spaced electrodes for providing material to said heated gas to interact therewith including integral means for electrically detecting the impingement of an electric arc near said arc detector-and-material admission means.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas flows, said arc detector and material admission means is disposed downstream of said one adjacent electrode means as determined bY the direction of flow of said gas.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arc detector-and-material admission means is electrically insulated from said one of said spaced electrodes.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 comprising cooling means for cooling said arc detector-and-material admission means.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cooling means comprises: a cooling channel integral with said arc detector-and-material admission means; and a heat exchanger means spaced from said arc detector-and-material admission means but communicating with said cooling channel to form a closed system for supplying a cooling medium to said arc detector-and-material admission means and for removing the relatively warmer cooling medium therefrom after it passes through said channel, the heat from said relatively warmer cooling medium being cooled by said heat exchanger means to thereby provide said cooling medium for return to said cooling channel.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cooling medium comprises water.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced electrode means comprise a pair of annularly shaped electrodes disposed axially along a common central axis, said arc detector-and-material admission means being disposed along said common central axis.
 8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said gas flows, said arc detector-and-material admission means is in electrical contact with said adjacent one of said spaced electrodes and is disposed downstream therefrom as determined by the direction of flow of said gas comprising: a cooling channel integral with said arc detector-and-material admission means; and a heat exchanger means spaced from said arc detector-and-material admission means but communicating with said cooling channel in a closed system for supplying water to said arc detector-and-material admission means for cooling said channel and for removing relatively warmer water therefrom, the heat from said relatively warmer water being cooled by said heat exchanger means to thereby provide said cooling water for return to said cooling channel.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including means for indicating the presence of an electric arc on said arc detector-and-material admission means, wherein said integral means for electrically detecting the impingment of an electric arc upon said arc detector-and-material admission means comprises an electrical current transformer electrically communicating with said means for indicating the presence of an arc upon said arc detector-and-material admission means, said current transformer being annular and concentric about said common axis and disposed to detect electrical current flowing in said arc detector-and-material admission means from the point of arc impingment on said arc detector-and-material admission means to said adjacent one of said electrodes.
 10. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said arc detector-and-material admission means comprises a material admission structure having generally radially spaced openings therein past which said heated gas flows, said spaced openings communicating with a source of material to provide material to said heated gas to interact therewith.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 including means for indicating the presence of a spurious arc on said arc detector-and-material admission means, wherein said integral means for electrically detecting the impingement of an electric arc upon said arc detector-and-material admission means comprises an electrical current transformer electrically communicating with said means for indicating the presence of an arc upon said arc detector-and-material admission means, said current transformer being annular and concentric about said common axis and disposed to detect electrical current flowing in said arc detector-and-material admission means from the point of arc impingement thereon to said adjaCent one said electrode.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said material comprises process material.
 13. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said material comprises quenching material.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said material comprises a fluid.
 15. The combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fluid comprises a gas.
 16. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for indicating said impingement of said arc provides a control function of said arc heater apparatus. 